WW1 Douglas Hepburn Gamble 13/2191

Douglas Hepburn Gamble (Service number 13/2191) was born 21 February 1893 in Remuera, Auckland to Rachel Louise Gamble and William Nelson Gamble, of Gamble and Griffiths, Sharebrokers in Queen Street, Auckland, and Remuera Road.

Douglas went to Remuera Primary School and attended King’s College from 1908 – 1911. Although he was a good all-round sportsman, football was his favourite game and he was a prominent member of the Remuera Football Club. [1] He was a Sergeant in the Senior Cadets and Territorials. He was working as a clerk with the New Zealand Insurance Company, in Auckland when he enlisted on 8 May 1915. He was described as 6ft tall with green eyes and dark brown hair. [1]

He embarked on 14 August 1915 from Wellington on the vessel ‘Tofua’ and arrived in Suez, Egypt on 19 September 1915. He was a Sergeant Major with the Auckland Mounted Rifles, 6th Reinforcements. Douglas became a Warrant Officer, Class 2 on 1 April 1916, when he was transferred to Gallipoli for about six weeks after which he returned to Egypt. [2] The Dominion newspaper of 14 August 1916 reprints a report from the British War Office about the war in Egypt where the British, including the New Zealanders were fighting against the Turkish and the Ottoman Empire that: ‘Our Mounteds on the 9th August 1916 heavily pressed six thousand Turks, including a fresh regiment, which was not engaged at Romani. The enemy held a line north and south through Bir el Abd, their right resting on Bardawill Lagoon and their left curving south-east. Their three counter-attacks were repulsed. A general counter-attack ensued along the whole line, and our cavalry fell back slowly. We shelled large stacks of stores and convoys at two thousand yards. The Turks replied with 6 inch Howitzers. Their casualties were heavy. Our cavalry on the 10th August 1916 remained in observation of the enemy who retired to his entrenchments. ‘[3]

Douglas Gamble was killed in action in the Canal Zone, Egypt, North Africa on 9 August 1916 aged 20. The Reverend R. T. Williams conducted a brief burial service on the battlefield on the 12 August 1916. He is buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt, A. 66. [4]

Douglas Hepburn Gamble is remembered in New Zealand at:

• Remuera Primary School World War One Gates 1914-1918, 25 Dromorne Road, Remuera Auckland 1050

• King’s College Roll of Honour

• St Aidan’s Church, Remuera